Flush-tank construction and valve-lever-operating mechanism therefor



CEARLES C. 'tif-Rl OFFICE..

01T CAltDlS-JN, NEW' JERSEY, ASSIGNR OF ONE-HALF TO CAMDEN filll, CRPCRAT'IGN 0F NEW JERSEY.

:FLUSH-TANK CGNS'YSRQTQH AEE VALVELEVER-PERATNG MECHANISM THERE- FOR.

Application filed Tuly 23, 1925.

The invention relates to tlush tank construction and valve lever operating n'iechanish therefor. The object is to provide an improved tank construction, and improved means for mounting the valve lever actuating mechanism. The invention is especially applicable to tanks made ot vitreous china or the like.

The invention comprises a boss formation integral with and projecting from the main surface ot the tank, in order to provide aniple bearing tor the bushing, forming the bearing for the actuating spindle, and, at the same time, forming a spacing body for maintaining the spindle operating handle suliiciently spaced Sironi the surface oi the tank.

The boss, which has a torniation in the nature ot a stationary escutcheon, has a` countersunk portion surrounding the channel "for receiving the bushing, and the bushing is provided with a flange seated in said countersunk portion. T his ilange is adapted to engage a cooperating flange on the spindle, which is seated in the bushing, and the free end c'iwhich is secured into the vitreous operating handle, so that metallic bearing surfaces are provided between the spindle and its bushing with respect to relative longitudinal movement, in order to prevent trictional contact between the vitreous handle and the vitreous boss.

The invention also comprises improvements in the general actuating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, which illnetrat-e merely by way of example a suitable embodiment o'l my invention Fig. 1 is an elevation inside the tank.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2, 2 of F ig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation outside the tank with the spindle and handle removed.

Similar numerals refer to similar' parts throughout the several views.

The wall 5 oit the vitreous flush tank, is providedA on its outer face with the symmetrical boss G, integral with said wan. Through the central part ot this boss is provided a channel 7, extending entirely through the wall oi the tank, tor receiving the bushing 8. This gives a body for supporting the bushing more than twice the thickness of the normal .vall thickness, and thus adds greatly to the stability ol' the Serial No. 45,568.

structure. This boss is also provided, in its outer tace, with countersunk portion 9, snrroundin said channel, and adapted to receive the iiange `10 of the metallic bushingV 8. The bushing S is threaded at its inner end tor threading into the plate l1, so that the boss and adjacent wall portion are clamped securely between the flange 1() and plate 1l. The flange portion 10 ot the bushing t3 is provided in its tace with the slot 12 tor receiving the end ot a screw driver similar tool. The plate 11 is provided 'h the horizontal extension 13 carrying, its outer end, the post 141, forming the inici-um ot the flush valve actuating lever 15, mounted thereon. The spindle 16, Which extends through bushing 8, is secured at its outer end, into the handle 17, of vitreous china or similar material. A suitable ceinenting material, as at 18, is used to secure the spindle end into said handle. Spindle 16 is provided with a flange 19, at a point between its two ends, at the margin of the handle, as shown in F ig. 2, and forms a closure for the body of cement 18, which surrounds the spindle end within the handle 17. This flange 19 also forms a bearing, as to longitudinal movement, against the face of the flange 10. The opposite end of spindle 16 is provided with a groove 20. Upon the grooved end of spindle 16 is adjustably mounted the disc member 21, having the hub 22 carrying the set screw 23, which cooperates with the groove 2O for locking the disc 21 in desired position of longitudinal adjustment upon the spindle 16. Freni the outer tace ot the disc 21 projectv the pins, or studs 24, 25 and 26. These pins are symmetrically arranged. The upper pin is preferably on the vertical line passing through the spindle 16. The pins 25 and 26 are on a horizontal line and evenly spaced from said vertical line. The upper pin is preferably longer than the other two, and is connected, by a link member 27, to the free end of lever 15, as shown in Fig. 1.

it will be not-ed that in assembling the device, the plate 11 is held firmly against the wall 5 ot the tank, with the arm 13 extending horizontally. Xhile in this position, the bushing 8 is threaded tightly into the plate 11, thus securing it in absolutely fixed position.

In operation: ,Vith the parts thus positioned, it Will be seen that, by moving the handle 17 either to the right or to the lett, the pin 24, operating through link 2T will pull down the right hand end ot lever 15 and Will consequently elevate the left hand end of said lever to actuate, through the connecting rod 28, the flush valve, not shoivn. It Will be also understood that the lever actuation Will be substantially the same with the movement oi' handle 17 either to the right or to the left. The pins Q5 and Q6 are adapted to encounter the link 27, to imit said handle actuating` movement in either direction.

lt Will also be noted that a substantial advantage is gained by increasing, much beyond the normal practice, the thickness oi the Wall in which the bushing 8 is seated. This provides a much longer and more stable bearing for the spindle 1G, and also greatly reduces the strain upon the vitreous Wall of the tank. It will be noted, from an inspection of Fig, 2, that the metallic iiange 19 project-s slightly beyond the surface ot the vitreous handle 17, and that the 'flange 10 occupies a countersunk portion of boss 6, arranged so that the rounded portion ot hand-le 17 and the flange 19 project slightly into said countersunk portion ot' the boss G. This makes a compact and attractive assembly of the handle and loos-s. At the same time it will be noted that the parts are so arranged and proportioned thatthe tivo metallic flanges 10 and 19 come into cont-act7 While the adjacent portions ot the vitreous boss aud handle are maintained slightly separated, thus preventing undesi able grinding between said vitreous members.

lll hat I claim is 1. in a flush tank construction, the combination of a horizontally projecting valveactuating spindle, of a china iiush tank having a portion of its vertical wall increased in thickness, so as to provide a tapered boss formation integral With said side Wall and projecting beyond the surrounding outer Wall surface, said boss and Wall behind the boss provided With a horizontally extendingV channel, a bushing forming a bearing for the spindle, secured in said channel and extending from the inner surface of the tank Wall to near the outer tace of the boss and having a flange on its outer end and an actuating handle secured to the outer end of the spindle in close proximity to the integral boss.

2. In a tlush tank construct-ion the coinbination of a horizontally projectingl valveactuating spindle, ot a china flush tank having a portion ot its. vertical wall increased in thickness, so asv to provide a tapered boss i'ormation integral with said side Wall and projecting beyond the surrounding outer Wall surface, said boss and wall beh-ind the boss provided with a horizontally extending channel, a bushing forming a hearing for the spindle, secured in said channel and eatending from the inner surface of the tank Wall to near the outer tace ot the boss, a ilange on the spindle Jfor i'rictional engagement with the end of the bushing, and an actuating handle secured to the spindle in close proximity to said flange.

3. ln a 'Hush tank construction, the conibination of a horizontally projecting valveactuating spindle, ot a china flush tank having a portion ot' its vertical wall increased in thickness sol to provide a tapered boss formation integral with said side Wall and projecting beyond the surrounding outer Wall surface, said boss and wall behind the boss provided with a horizontally extending channel, a bushing forming a bearing for the spindle, secured in said channel and extending from the inner surface ot the tank Wall to near the outer face ot' the boss and having a flange on its outer end, a flange on the spin-A dle for frictional engagement with the flange of the bushing, and an actuating handle secured to the end of the spindle.

CHARLES C.. lVR-IGHT. 

